Astronomical Optics, Second Edition

This book provides a unified treatment of the characteristics of telescopes of all types, both those whose performance is set by geometrical aberrations and the effect of the atmosphere, and those diffraction-limited telescopes designed for observations from above the atmosphere. The emphasis throughout is on basic principles, such as Fermat's principle, and their application to optical systems specifically designed to image distant celestial sources. The book also contains thorough discussions of the principles underlying all spectroscopic instrumentation, with special emphasis on grating instruments used with telescopes. An introduction to adaptive optics provides the needed background for further inquiry into this rapidly developing area. \* Geometrical aberration theory based on Fermat's principle \* Diffraction theory and transfer function approach to near-perfect telescopes \* Thorough discussion of 2-mirror telescopes, including misalignments \* Basic principles of spectrometry; grating and echelle instruments \* Schmidt and other catadioptric telescopes \* Principles of adaptive optics \* Over 220 figures and nearly 90 summary tables Astronomical Optics 4 Copyright Page 5 Contents 8 Preface 14 Chapter 1. Introduction 18 1.1. A Bit of History 18 1.2. Approach to Subject 21 1.3. Outline of Book 21 Chapter 2. Preliminaries: Definitions and Paraxial Optics 24 2.1. Sign Conventions 25 2.2. Paraxial Equation for Refraction 26 2.3. Paraxial Equation for Reflection 29 2.4. Two-Surface Refracting Elements 31 2.5. Two-Mirror Telescopes 34 2.6. Stops and Pupils 39 2.7. Concluding Remarks 42 Bibliography 43 Chapter 3. Fermat's Principle: An Introduction 44 3.1. Fermat's Principle in General 45 3.2. Fermat's Principle and Refracting Surfaces 48 3.3. Wave Interpretation of Fermat's Principle 53 3.4. Fermat's Principle and Reflecting Surfaces 54 3.5. Conic Sections 58 3.6. Fermat's Principle and the Atmosphere 59 3.7. Concluding Remarks 62 References 64 Bibliography 64 Chapter 4. Introduction to Aberrations 65 4.1. Reflecting Conics and Focal Length 66 4.2. Spherical Aberration 67 4.3. Reflecting Conics and Finite Object Distance 74 4.4. Off-Axis Aberrations 76 4.5. Aberration Compensation 78 References 86 Bibliography 86 Chapter 5. Fermat's Principle and Aberrations 87 5.1. Application to Surface of Revolution 87 5.2. Evaluation of Aberration Coefficients 92 5.3. Ray and Wavefront Aberrations 95 5.4. Summary of Aberration Results, Stop at Surface 101 5.5. Aberrations for Displaced Stop 105 5.6. Aberrations for Multisurface Systems 110 5.7. Curvature of Field 114 5.8. Aberrations for Decentered Pupil 120 5.9. Concluding Remarks 126 Appendix A: Comparison with Seidel Theory 127 References 128 Bibliography 128 Chapter 6. Reflecting Telescopes 129 6.1. Paraboloid 130 6.2. Two-Mirror Telescopes 132 6.3. Alignment Errors in Two-Mirror Telescopes 149 6.4. Three-Mirror Telescopes 161 6.5. Four-Mirror Telescopes 171 6.6. Concluding Remarks 178 References 179 Bibliography 179 Chapter 7. Schmidt Telescopes and Cameras 181 7.1. General Schmidt Configuration 182 7.2. Characteristics of Aspheric Plate 184 7.3. Schmidt Telescope Example 191 7.4. Achromatic Schmidt Telescope 194 7.5. Solid- and Semisolid-Schmidt Cameras 198 References 201 Bibliography 201 Chapter 8. Catadioptric Telescopes and Cameras 202 8.1. Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes 202 8.2. Cameras with Meniscus Correctors 214 8.3. All-Reflecting Wide-Field Systems 221 References 222 Chapter 9. Auxiliary Optics for Telescopes 223 9.1. Field Lenses, Flatteners 224 9.2. Prime Focus Correctors 227 9.3. Cassegrain Focus Correctors 233 9.4. Cassegrain Focal Reducers 237 9.5. Atmospheric Dispersion Correctors 242 9.6. Fiber Optics 254 References 256 Bibliography 256 Chapter 10. Diffraction Theory and Aberrations 257 10.1. Huygens-Fresnel Principle 258 10.2. Perfect Image: Circular Aperture 263 10.3. The Near Perfect Image 274 10.4. Comparison: Geometric Aberrations and the Diffraction Limit 287 10.5. Diffraction Integrals and Fourier Theory 288 References 292 Bibliography 292 Chapter 11. Transfer Functions; Hubble Space Telescope 294 11.1. Transfer Functions and Image Characteristics 294 11.2. Hubble Space Telescope, Prelaunch Expectations 308 11.3. Hubble Space Telescope, Postlaunch Reality 315 11.4. Concluding Remarks 319 References 320 Bibliography 320 Chapter 12. Spectrometry: Definitions and Basic Principles 321 12.1. Introduction and Definitions 322 12.2. Slit Spectrometers 325 12.3. Fiber-Fed Spectrometers 334 12.4. Slitless Spectrometers 335 12.5. Spectrometers in Diffraction Limit 335 References 337 Bibliography 337 Chapter 13. Dispersing Elements and Systems 338 13.1. Dispersing Prism 338 13.2. Diffraction Grating; Basic Relations 340 13.3. Echelles 344 13.4. Grating Efficiency 348 13.5. Fabry-Perot Interferometer 359 13.6. Fourier Transform Spectrometer 364 13.7. Concluding Remarks 367 References 367 Bibliography 367 Chapter 14. Grating Aberrations; Concave Grating Spectrometers 369 14.1. Application of Fermat's Principle to Grating Surface 370 14.2. Grating Aberrations 374 14.3. Concave Grating Mountings 379 References 384 Bibliography 384 Chapter 15. Plane Grating Spectrometers 385 15.1. All-Reflecting Spectrometers 386 15.2. Pixel Matching 394 15.3. Fast Spectrometers 395 15.4. Fiber-Fed Spectrometers 400 15.5. Echelle Spectrometers 401 15.6. Nonobjective Slitless Spectrometers 413 15.7. Concluding Remarks 424 References 424 Bibliography 424 Chapter 16. Adaptive Optics: An Introduction 426 16.1. Effects of Atmospheric Turbulence 427 16.2. Correction of Wavefront Distortion 432 16.3. Adaptive Optics: Systems and Components 438 16.4. Concluding Remarks 440 References 441 Bibliography 441 Chapter 17. Detectors, Signal-to-Noise, and Detection Limits 442 17.1. Detector Characteristics 443 17.2. Signal-to-Noise Ratio 450 17.3. Detection Limits and Signal-to-Noise Ratio 452 17.4. Detection Limits: Stellar Photometry 455 17.5. Detection Limits: Spectroscopy 457 References 460 Bibliography 460 Chapter 18. Large Mirrors and Telescope Arrays 461 18.1. Large Mirrors 461 18.2. Telescope Arrays; Interferometers 468 References 474 Bibliography 474 Table of Symbols 476 Index 484 This book provides a unified treatment of the characteristics of telescopes of all types, both those whose performance is set by geometrical aberrations and the effect of the atmosphere, and those diffraction-limited telescopes designed for observations from above the atmosphere. The emphasis throughout is on basic principles, such as Fermat's principle, and their application to optical systems specifically designed to image distant celestial sources.
The book also contains thorough discussions of the principles underlying all spectroscopic instrumentation, with special emphasis on grating instruments used with telescopes. An introduction to adaptive optics provides the needed background for further inquiry into this rapidly developing area.

• Geometrical aberration theory based on Fermat's principle
• Diffraction theory and transfer function approach to near-perfect telescopes
• Thorough discussion of 2-mirror telescopes, including misalignments
• Basic principles of spectrometry; grating and echelle instruments
• Schmidt and other catadioptric telescopes
• Principles of adaptive optics
• Over 220 figures and nearly 90 summary tables

This book provides a unified treatment of the characteristics of telescopes of all types, both those whose performance is set by geometrical aberrations and the effect of the atmosphere, and those diffraction-limited telescopes designed for observations from above the atmosphere. The emphasis throughout is on basic principles, such as Fermat's principle, and their application to optical systems specifically designed to image distant celestial sources.
The book also contains thorough discussions of the principles underlying all spectroscopic instrumentation, with special emphasis on grating instruments used with telescopes. An introduction to adaptive optics provides the needed background for further inquiry into this rapidly developing area.



* Geometrical aberration theory based on Fermat's principle
* Diffraction theory and transfer function approach to near-perfect telescopes
* Thorough discussion of 2-mirror telescopes, including misalignments
* Basic principles of spectrometry; grating and echelle instruments
* Schmidt and other catadioptric telescopes
* Principles of adaptive optics
* Over 220 figures and nearly 90 summary tables "This book provides a unified treatment of the characteristics of telescopes of all types, including telescopes whose performance is set by geometrical aberrations and the effect of the atmosphere, and those diffraction-limited telescopes designed for observations from above the atmosphere. The emphasis throughout is on basic principles, such as Fermat's principle, and their application to optical systems specifically designed to image distant celestial sources. Astronomical Optics, Second Edition also contains thorough discussions of the principles underlying all spectroscopic instrumentation, giving special emphasis to grating instruments used with telescopes. An introduction to adaptive optics provides the needed background for further inquiry into this rapidly developing area."--Résumé de l'éditeur "This book provides a unified treatment of the characteristics of telescopes of all types, including telescopes whose performance is set by geometrical aberrations and the effect of the atmosphere, and those diffraction-limited telescopes designed for observations from above the atmosphere. The emphasis throughout is on basic principles, such as Fermat's principle, and their application to optical systems specifically designed to image distant celestial sources. Astronomical Optics, Second Edition also contains thorough discussions of the principles underlying all spectroscopic instrumentation, giving special emphasis to grating instruments used with telescopes. An introduction to adaptive optics provides the needed background for further inquiry into this rapidly developing area."--BOOK JACKET. The increasing rate of growth in astronomical knowledge during the past few decades is a direct consequence of the increase in the number and size of telescopes and the efficiency with which they are used.